Justice

Mormon

“And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works.”

The news has been covering the story of a local couple who were sentenced this week for fraudulent crimes. 

I have been following this couple since 2018. 

Lacey Carney was the CASA worker for the twins. She wreaked havoc on our case, and the twins were victims of unethical, deceitful, and malicious activity. I, too, was placed under a microscope and criticized, blamed even, and had my character as well as my ability to mother attacked from the witness stand. I have much to say about my experience as a sometimes powerless foster parent. When one of us is feeling extra anxious, we can often pinpoint the trigger being related to the fire/covid/foster adoption appeal nightmare. The body keeps score, and it can take some time to recover from traumatic situations. I look back at what we all survived  and think, “well no wonder our nervous systems are shot. We had to live in a state of hyper vigilance for years. We could not publicly share our concerns and out attempts to resolve them privately brought cruel calculated consequences. 

To be clear, I forgive Lacey. 

I do not wish her ill or any harm. Zero. 

This sentencing does vindicate the Herculean efforts Aaron and I made while fighting a broken system with some truly corrupt motives working against us. Not in a vengeance seeking way…it’s more like validation and emotional deliverance. 

It was a wolf in sheep’s clothing situation and we were all called crazy and irrational. Little Bear was called a liar. We felt like we were pointing fingers and shouting into an abyss as we called out very concerning actions, trying to advocate for the twins and protect them (and ourselves), but the louder we got, the bigger the retaliations against us grew. We were cornered, trapped, and threatened many times. 

When the adoption was finalized, I received a whole file box of appalling documents and reports that still make me sick to my stomach to think about. Good was called evil and evil was called good. I am so grateful we had a judge with the gift of discernment. She saw what we saw. 

Years later, it is validating to see one more bothersome loose end tied up. Someone with power finally recognized corruption, had the courage to speak up, and good triumphs over evil as justice is served. 

I know this is a heavy and emotional case for the community, but the sentencing only brings peace to a place in my conscience where it felt like dust never fully settled. 

I will rest better with the assurance that no more children will not be placed in harms way.